Device and method for facilitating the filling of flexible trash bags

ABSTRACT

A device for facilitating filling of elongate flexible trash bags utilizes a generally rectangular sheet of material constructed of a slippery, manually flexible composition having sufficient stiffness to retain itself in a cylindrically formed shape. The sheet is provided with a set of spaced fastenerreceiving apertures adjacent one end edge thereof. A plurality of parallel sets of similarly shaped fastening apertures is provided in an intermediate portion of the sheet nearer the opposite end thereof. Quickly applicable fastener elements are provided for insertion through two selected aligned sets of said fastening apertures when the sheet is manually flexed in curvilinear manner to a helical, generally cylindrical shape. Secured by said fasteners in a desired adjusted diameter, the sheet forms a distender cylinder for use in a novel method for filling flexible trash bags. The distender cylinder in height is only a fraction of the height of the limp trash bag with which it functions in a combination relationship. The distender is first slipped to the bottommost position within the bag, thereby uniformly distending the same and thereafter trash is dumped through the open top of the bag to a level just below the upper edge of the cylindrical distender. Thereafter the distender is slid upwardly above the level of trash and the filling operation is repeated. These steps for elongate large bags are repeated until the bag is filled to the desired level, whereafter the distender is removed and the upper annular edge of the bag is twisted tightly and secured and preferably sealed.

[111 3,822,524 i 1 July 9,1974

United States Patent [19 .lerpbak [5 DEVICE AND METHOD FOR [57] ABSTRACTA device for facilitating filling of elongate flexible trash bagsutilizes a generally rectangular sheet of ma- FACILITATING THE FILLINGOF terial constructed of a slippery, manually flexible cornpositionhaving sufiicient stiffness to retain itself in a cylindrically formedshape. The sheet is provided with a set of spaced fastener-receivingapertures adjacent one end edge thereof. A plurality of parallel sets ofsimilarly shaped fastening apertures is provided in an intermediateportion of the sheet nearer the opposite end thereof. Quickly applicablefastener elements are provided for insertion through two selectedaligned sets of said fastening apertures when the sheet is manuallyflexed in curvilinear manner to a helical, generally cylindrical shape.Secured by said fasteners in a desired adjusted diameter, the sheetforms a distender cylinder for use in a novel method for fillingflexible trash bags. The distender cylinder in height is only a fractionof the height of the limptrash bag with which it functions in acombination relationship. The distender is first slipped to thebottommost position within the bag, thereby uniformly distending thesame (1 thereafter trash is dumped through the open top of the bag to alevel just below the upper edge of the cylindrical distender. Thereafterthe distender is slid upwardly above the level of trash and the fillingoperam 3 o msdm ww //5 3300] t w HQE www mm F M2 1 7 & MMHUH i 97 444 57 i 9 B 9 3 7O "nun" mm m 3 U H R mmmmm m. n fl 0 mmmmm a D W3MN E mmmmmk n o 7 6 3, T mmmmm m .m B fiOM w NWT: S bi t 3 m lm G WM B m a 5 6 1 0muman A e 9 l B5 9 S nh m m B a 1 f I? Lu o "m2 bmflfln H O 4 11 A U. 0Ako e O I u 1|. PS 1 3 l Tdo m l e 0. 2 S m n "6 a AGKMA m n nu {,fds pt We 7 D M m as mwmnn m y ma run mwww B K M b h N//// m n v R M3 a 6-Hun .2698 n L .I Q. d E e p I L m m p 97, m m n w F I F A 01 I 1] l l]l. IMMWZOJ 6 2 1 3. 2 NW. N E5736, H mm. M U [l I 2 tion is repeated.These steps for-elongate large bags are repeated until the bag is filledto the desired level. whereafter the distender is removed and the upperan- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7 Great Britain.......,............

362,706 l2/l93l nular edge of the bag is twisted tightly and securedPrimary Examiner Robert L. Spruill and preferably Sealed Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Williamson, Baine & Moore 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 7manure n a. a

PAH-1min JUL 9x924 DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING THE FILLING OFFLEXIBLE TRASH BAGS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is acontinuation-in-part of applicants copending application Ser. No.223,153, filed Feb. 3, 1972 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common knowledge that for at leasttwelve years limp, plastic bags have been widely used for containing,with substantially sealed effect, trash such as leaves, ashes, cans,litter and garbage. The wide use of such plastic film bags hassubstantially lessened pollution clue to containment and disposal oftrash materials which decay in a short time leaving obnoxious odor germsand liberating harmful gases.

Such limp plastic bags folded in compact form are available at allsupermarkets, hardware stores, drug stores and the like and come inelongate sizes running from 3 /2 feet to 6 /2 feet in height whendistended.

In present day use of such elongate plastic bags a rigid container, suchas a garbage can or the like, is usually employed and the elongate bagis inserted therein with the upper end of the bag circularly disposedand overlying the upper open end of the garbage can or other container.Thereafter, trash is thrown into the and Kaiser US. Pat. No. 791,472,issued June 6, 1905.

The prior art includes a patent to Morris et al. US. Pat. No. 1,879,410,issued Sept. 27, 1932, for a process and device for inserting liners inbarrels, drums and other containers. In one form of the insert devicewhich cooperates with the rigid barrel or other container, an adjustablefull height cylindrical form is used, the ends of which may be connectedtogether for varying diameters of barrels. There is no suggestion of theuse of a cylindrical distending element in combination with a thin limpplastic bag to form a support or partial support for the bag or tofacilitate its filling.

It is an object of my invention to eliminate the serious difiiculties infilling limp plastic bags with trash and litter; to provide incombination with a large bag and the full height thereof a flexibledistender element working in sequence in combination with a much longerbag to distend and support the limp bag :in vertical position, toprevent injury or puncturing of the bag when certain piercing elementsof trash are disposed in the bag and I to be readily removable from thebag when the bag is bag and of course settles and receives somecompaction fromits own weight and other pressures. When-the bag isfilled it is then necessary to remove the same by grasping the upperedges of the bag and pulling upwardly thereon. This is accomplished withsubstantial difficulty, first because application of a uniform upwardlift to the periphery of the bag is uncertain and, secondly, because theirregularities and compaction of the trash material produces a markeddegree of friction between the periphery of the bag and the upstandingcontainer.

Surveys indicate that more of said limp plastic bags are employed forreceiving trash in lawn and yard usage than in actual use with garbagecans. No adequate method or simple apparatus for simplifying andfacilitating filling of a limp bag without use of a rigid upstandingcontainer is known to applicant. Often times in filling a trash bag foryard cleanup and the like one person will hold, in vertical or inclinedposition, the bag to open the mouth thereof and a second person willpour or stuff in litter, cans, leaves, twigs and other trash. Suchoperation is difficult, consumes much time and usually results in use ofonly part of thefull cylindrical shape of the bag.

Prior art known to applicant is remote and antiquated and consists inremovable cylindrical supports for fabric or woven bags or sacks whichextend somewhat above the full height of the sack or bag and usuallyhave means for connection of the upper edge of the fabric bag near theupper end of a distending'cylinder. The removable supports and bagfilling devices of the prior art have been constructed of sheet metal,substantially rigid and frangible fiberboard and the like and in useconstitute a cylindrical form flexible only to a slight extent to enablethe form to be disposed within the sack or bag.

Typical of the said prior art devices are patents to Goodrich US. Pat.No.-576,782, issued Feb. 9, 1897; Adkisson US. Pat. No. 271,759, issuedFeb. 6, 1883 filled to its desired level.

For practical use and success in overcoming the heretofore unsolvedproblem, it is essential that the parts of the apparatus or distenderdevice employed be for sale, disposal and portability, compact andreadily formable into distender elements of varying diameters. The saidelongate, limp plastic trash bags which have met and can even mean moreto solving some of our pollution problems are commercially made in sizeswhich in height, when distended, vary from 3 /2 feet to 6 /2 feet. Thediameters of said bags also vary in a range of from 26 inches to 38inches.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, l have discovered that incombinative use with a conventional large limp plastic bag, the full distention of the same and the support or mounting of the bag in a verticalposition may be accomplished by combinative use with the bag of amanually rollable sheet of plastic material which may be sold anddistributed in very compact, small body form and which may bemanually'manipulated to dispose the same in cylindrical form andofvarying diameter to nicely and slidably fit within the bottom portion ofan. elongate plastic bag. The outside material of the sheet. employedfor the cylinder body is of aslippery material to facilitate relativesliding of the distender to elevated positions above the originalposition adjacent the bottom of the bag. Simple securing elements forinterconnecting the locking edges of the sheet in helical formareprovided to make the device readily adjustable diametrically to smoothlyfit within bags varying substantially in diameter. The plastic materialof the distender sheet has sufficient stiffness to retain its shape whenhelically formed but is sufiiciently flexible to be rolled or compactedfor shipment orsale in a compact roll of less than 3% inches in diameterand preferably not exceeding 30 inches in length.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT From the followingdescription, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, the newresults, combinative structure and advantages of my invention will beapparent, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical sectionshowing my device as originally applied to the interior of a flexibletrash bag and with the lower portion of said bag within the distenderfilled to a pre determined level;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the distender moved upwardly to asecond location to receive the next relatively deep stratum of trashmaterial;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the distender element of rectangular form laidout before helically forming the same into a cylindrical article;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, on a larger scale, showing the distendersheet helically secured in a predetermined adjusted position;

FIG. 5 is a detail side elevation, on a much larger scale, showing asuitable resilient fastener device for multiple use when securing thesheet together in cylindrical form; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the distender and fastening meansin compact rolled form for sale, shipment and storage.

Referring now to the drawings, I provide an elongate rectangulardistender sheet, indicated as an entirety by' D, made of rather stiffbut manually flexible plastic material, such as polyethylene orpolystyrene, and provided therein with two cooperating sets of securingapertures A and B, the sets A being disposed closely adjacent oneend-edge (vertical in use) of sheet D while the several series B of thesecond set are in similar spaced relation at an intermediate portion ofthe sheet closer to the opposite vertical edge. In selection of thesheet material, it is preferable that the surfaces are smooth andslippery. A sheet thickness of 3/32 of an inch is adequate and permitstight rolling of the sheet in helical form for storage, sale andshipment.

Suitable resilient fasteners are provided for cooperation with selectedapertures A and B to adjustably secure distender sheet D in helical orgenerally cylindrical shape. The form of fastener preferably employed,as shown in FIG. 5, constitutes a headed stud device having a disc outerhead 5a and an integrally formed axial split stud 5s which, on theexterior surfaces of the prongs of the stud, has oppositely inclinedwedge surfaces 5b for producing a cam action against the sides definingthe fastener-receiving aperture of sets A and B. Shoulders 50, formedinwardly of said wedge surfaces, abut the appropriate edges of theselected apertures B employed in making the connections.

A plurality of widely spaced finger-receiving slots S may be formedadjacent the upper edge of distender sheet D to facilitate manual upwardsliding adjustment of the sheet within a plastic bag and of course whenthe sheet is secured in cylindrical form.

If desired (not shown), indicia may be imprinted lengthwise of theseveral sets of fastener-receiving apertures B, or at the top aperturesthereof, to signify the diameters or sizes of various flexible trashbags to be accommodated and distended when the respective sets areplaced in registration with the first set of the fastener-receivingapertures A after curvilinear deformation or shaping of the rectangularsheet.

FIG. 4 and FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the generally cylindrical shape ofthe distender D when helically flexed and secured for use in my novelmethod. It is usually only necessary, when materials of properthickness, stiffness and flexibility are employed, to secure only oneset of fasteners 5 through properly aligned sets of receiving aperturesA and B, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 shows the distender body or sheetcompactly rolled (manually) into the form it assumes for display, saleand shipment and having a diameter preferably of less than 3V2 inches.When so rolled in helical form, tltedistender may be secured by heavyrubber bands or adhesive tape X.

It will be understood that the structure or apparatus of my inventioncomprises the combination and multipositional relation of an elongatelimp trash bag with the distender D smoothly and slidably accommodatedwithin the confines of an elongate limp trash bag having a length, whendistended, several times the height of distender D.

My improved method of use consists in first inserting the secureddistender cylinder within the confines of a thin flexible trash bag T toa bottommost position within the bag. In such position, with therectangular sheet properly secured in helical form of the desireddiameter, the bag is uniformly distended and the bottom thereof isdisposed horizontally and can rest against the ground or a horizontalsupporting surface. The upper annular edge T-l of the flexible bag, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is folded over and downturned and in suchdownturned fashion is also distended by sheet D. The combination oftrash bag T and distender may rest in supported vertical position asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or may be manipulated by the user as a scoop tofacilitate pick up of leaves, twigs, and other trash.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, trash material, including leaves, twigs,garbage and even sticky large particle material, is dumped within theupper end of the distender to a level above that shown in FIG. I andnearly to the top edge of the distender.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, the distender cylinder is slid upwardlywithin the confines of the bag and the filling operation is repeated toa level near the then upper edge of the distender cylinder D. For mostbags, repetition once of the filling operation is usually all that isrequired, but of course for longer bags the filling operation may berepeated until the bag is filled to the desired level, leaving anannular edge of sufficient width to provide for twisting of this edgeand application of flare or band twistable securing elements to secureand substantially seal the top of the filled bag. The distender is ofcourse removed after maximum filling of the bag and before the bag isclosed.

It will be understood that with my improved and new method and theessential adjustable device forming a critical part of the method andoperation, no reinforcing garbage can or container is required since thedistender itself, when curvilinearly formed, has adequate strength tosupport the flexible bag in an upright or vertical position.

It will furtherbe noted that since the reinforcement and distendingcylinder D is internally positioned within the flexible bag, the upwardsliding of the distender from the initial position to an elevatedsecondary position requires exceedingly little effort, first because asthe cylinder D moves upwardly, an expansion chamber in the bag is formedbelow the lower edge of the distender. Secondly, of course, thedistender itself is made of slippery material and can be easily slidupwardly even though the trash is relatively sticky and of large andvaried particle formation.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the combinativestructure (or apparatus) consisting in the elongate limp bag T and thecooperating relatively short distender and support body D, in use,requires two or more stages of operation to produce my valuable newresults. The combinative structural components which inherently providefor such multipositional operation and functions are set forth in theappended structural claims.

As the elongate limp film bags are progressively filled to the level ofthe distender body, the relatively short sliding movement in the secondoperation of the structure is very easily effected because no trash orother material lies above the upper edge of the distender and, secondly,because in displacement of the distender upwardly an expansion chamberis created. The filling of the bag progressively, even when trashmaterial has normally cutting edges, will not pierce or injure the filmf bag because the material is dumped into and stuffed in the portion ofthe bag internally protected by the distender.

Prior art semi-rigid distenders, which as disclosed must always extendto a height above the top edge of the bag, are commercially unfeasiblebecause of bulk, shipment, storage and difficulty in insertion intopresent-day film bags. With the vertical edges of such prior art devicesfree and undetached in smooth arrangement, friction between such edgesand present-day film bags would be substantial and injury to the bags inan attempt to upwardly displace such a distender, by tests,

is-shown to be frequent. No prior art relating specifically todistenders, supports for flexible bags, shows any means for smoothlyconnecting the edges of distenders in predetermined diameter smoothrelation.

With applicants combinative structure of bag and relatively shortcylindrical wall distender, no appreciable effort is needed to slide thedistenders upwardly from bottommost position (after partial filling) tothe next operative position, and in final removal of the distender onlythe friction of a fraction of the bag height of the material is imposed.

Thus, positive new results have been attained through applicant'scombination of elongate limp bag and relatively short smooth cylindricaldistender not previously remotely suggested by anything known toapplicant in the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an elongate limp trash bag of thin filmconstruction, a positionally adjustable distender and support device forfunctionally facilitating fillingof said bag, said distending andsupport device comprising;

a generally rectangular adjustable distender sheet having a height ofonly a fraction of the height of said bag when distended,

said sheet being constructed of slippery, manually rollable and flexiblematerial having sufficient stiffness to retain its shape whencurvilinearly formed into a cylindrical open ended body,

said distender sheet having at least one set of fastener-receivingspaced apertures near one of the end edges thereof and havingcorresponding spaced sets of fastener-receiving apertures in anintermediate portion of said sheet near the opposite end thereof forselective alignment with said first set of apertures when said sheet isflexed to a helical shape, and

readily applicable fastener elements for insertion through the selectedtwo sets of fastener-receiving apertures said fasteners havingthin-headed portions for adjustably and smoothly securing the endportions of said sheet with some overlap therein into one'of a pluralityof cylindrical forms of different diameters, I

said form and cylindrical body in the first operative positioning of thecombination being disposed within the bottom portion of the bag to befilled and smoothly distending said bag and providing support for thesame in upright position,

the operation of such structure requiring an upper positioning of saiddistender body through smooth sliding of said body within said bodyafter initial partial filling of said bag with trash.

2. A method forfacilitating support and filling of elongate limp trashbags which consists in:

forming a generally rectangular sheet of slippery, manually rollable andflexible material into a open ended cylindrical form, said sheet havingsets of fastener-receiving apertures near opposite ends thereof, Y

inserting fasteners into mating sets of said apertures to maintain saidsheet in said cylindrical form,

inserting the above formed cylinder within the lower portion and bottomof said trash bag said cylinder having only a fraction of the length ofsaid trash the upper annular edge of said bag to close the samecontaining the filling therewithin.

UNITED kATENi" 6mm;

1 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatemzNoc 3,832,524 Dated Ju1y9, 1914Jorpbak, Solar L.

It: is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

601m 6, 11 13 25, change "lavody' (second occurrence) to i --bag--'Signed and sealed this 5th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON J-R C MARSHALL DAN N Attestlng Officer Commissioner ofPatents F ORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 us. sovsnnnzurr-nmnncO'FFICE: I!" o-sscs-au

1. In combination with an elongate limp trash bag of thin filmconstruction, a positionally adjustable distender and support device forfunctionally facilitating filling of said bag, said distending andsupport device comprising; a generally rectangular adjustable distendersheet having a height of only a fraction of the height of said bag whendistended, said sheet being constructed of slippery, manually rollableand flexible material having sufficient stiffness to retain its shapewhen curvilinearly formed into a cylindrical open ended body, saiddistender sheet having at least one set of fastenerreceiving spacedapertures near one of the end edges thereof and having correspondingspaced sets of fastener-receiving apertures in an intermediate portionof said sheet near the opposite end thereof for selective alignment withsaid first set of apertures when said sheet is flexed to a helicalshape, and readily applicable fastener elements for insertion throughthe selected two sets of fastener-receiving apertures said fastenershaving thin-headed portions for adjustably and smoothly securing the endportions of said sheet with some overlap therein into one of a pluralityof cylindrical forms of different diameters, said form and cylindricalbody in the first operative positioning of the combination beingdisposed within the bottom portion of the bag to be filled and smoothlydistending said bag and providing support for the same in uprightposition, the operation of such structure requiring an upper positioningof said distender body through smooth sliding of said body within saidbody after initial partial filling of said bag with trash.
 2. A methodfor facilitating support and filling of elongate limp trash bags whichconsists in: forming a generally rectangular sheet of slippery, manuallyrollable and flexible material into a open ended cylindrical form, saidsheet having sets of fastener-receiving apertures near opposite endsthereof, inserting fasteners into mating sets of said apertures tomaintain said sheet in said cylindrical form, inserting the above formedcylinder within the lower portion and bottom of said trash bag saidcylinder having only a fraction of the length of said trash bag andbeing of a predetermined diameter to loosely fit and uniformly distendand support the lower portion of said bag, thereafter filling the bagwithin the confines of said distending cylinder to a level approximatingthe upper edge of said cylinder, thereafter sliding said cylinderupwardly within the confines of said bag to a position just above thefilled portion of said bag and successively repeating the procedure offilling until the bag is filled to the desired level, and thereafterslidably removing said cylinder from the open upper end of said bag anduniformly securing the upper annular edge of said bag to close the samecontaining the filling therewithin.